Melges 24 Gold Cup Championship at Charleston Race Week Day 2

U.S. Melges 24 Class Gold Cup Championship 2012 is being held in conjunction with Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week. Just two points separate 2011 and 2010 Charleston Champions going into the final day of racing.

The battle between Kristin Lane’s Tiburon, CA based Brickhouse and 2011 National Champion Bora Gulari on New England Ropes heated up today, with Lane stealing Friday’s slim lead from Gulari after four races in 6-10 knots of Charleston Harbor breeze. It's a role reversal of last year's Charleston Race Week performance, when Gulari took a lead into the final day of racing only to see Lane sail to victory in the final race.

'It was lighter and shiftier than most days in Charleston and we lost a few points to Kristen, but we're definitely looking forward to more breeze tomorrow,' said Gulari. 'My crew really wants to win this Gold Cup, and just as importantly, we want to win back bragging rights at one of the biggest Melges events of the year.'

Alan Field’s WTF sits 10 points back from Gulari after eight races, while Chicago's Don Wilson on Convexity sits a further 12 behind Field and just four points ahead of Argyle Campbell on Rock and Roll. Tight battles continue throughout the fleet for nearly every position.

In the Corinthian division, Bayview Yacht Club (Detroit, MI) racer Paul Hulsey sits on top of an 18-boat strong amateur-only fleet, with Ed Massey’s Sweet As Bro trailing after a weaker showing than their spectacular first day. Rob Britts Hot Mess trails Massey and Hulsey by a small margin.